Air conditioning system and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning system and a startup control method. The air conditioning system includes: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; the air conditioning system further includes a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb and controlledly cools or heats the thermal temperature sensing bulb. The thermal temperature sensing bulb is cooled or heated, as needed, by a thermal power source thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb, thereby enabling the thermal expansion valve associated with the thermal temperature sensing bulb to be opened and closed more smoothly.

FOREIGN PRIORITY

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910261297.X, filed Apr. 2, 2019, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to the field of heat exchange, and in particular to a startup control of an air conditioning system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For refrigeration systems that do not have a variable frequency device, they typically control the cooling load in the form of frequent switching between on and off modes. For such systems, a cyclic degradation coefficient is often used as one of the indicators for evaluating system performance. That is, it is a parameter indicating a comparison between the dynamic performance (such as cooling capacity and power consumption) provided by the refrigeration system and the steady-state performance of the same system during the cycle of starting and stopping a compressor. When the coefficient is smaller, it indicates that the performance of the corresponding system is better, and when it is larger, the performance is not as good.

In practical applications, a non-variable frequency refrigeration system in which a thermal expansion valve is used as a throttling element may have a cyclic degradation coefficient of 0.2 or higher. One of the reasons is that an opening degree of the thermal expansion valve will suddenly rise and fall during the re-starting phase after the compressor is stopped, which will be reflected as a violent oscillation of the cooling capacity, that is, an excessive power consumption of the compressor will be caused.

Specifically, as a mature component in the field of refrigeration, the opening degree of the thermal expansion valve is determined by a resultant force of three forces. In an equilibrium state, the resultant force of a spring preload force P3 in the thermal expansion valve and an evaporator outlet pressure P2 is canceled out with a pressure P1 caused by temperature change of a thermal temperature sensing bulb. After the compressor has been shut down for a period of time, the thermal expansion valve remains closed due to the force balance. At this point, if the compressor is directly started, referring to FIG. 1, under the suction of the compressor, the evaporator outlet pressure P2 drops rapidly, and the force balance of the three forces disappears. Since the pressure P1 is much larger than the spring preload force P3, the thermal expansion valve is quickly opened to a very large opening degree. As the thermal expansion valve opens, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor quickly flows through the evaporator and back to the compressor via the thermal expansion valve. On one hand, this will lead to excessive refrigerant flow and liquid slugging on the compressor; on the other hand, the evaporator outlet pressure P2 is quickly restored at this point, and the opening degree of the thermal expansion valve is greatly reduced in cooperation with the spring preload force P3, resulting in a rapid decrease in the cooling capacity. As a result, the aforementioned problems of the opening degree of thermal expansion valve and corresponding sudden increase and sudden drop of the cooling capacity are caused, which will further affect the system cyclic degradation coefficient and system performance.

In addition, when the air conditioning system is in steady-state operation, generally, the thermal expansion valve can only be passively adjusted based on system operating conditions. This leads to reaction lag of such systems in responding to the need to adjust the operating conditions, and the lack of adjustment ability to actively respond.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning system and various control methods thereof, thereby effectively solving or at least alleviating one or more of the above problems in the prior art and in other aspects.

In order to achieve at least one object of the present disclosure, according to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioning system is provided, which includes: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; the air conditioning system further including a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb and controlledly cools or heats the thermal temperature sensing bulb.

Optionally, the thermal power source controlledly cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb before the compressor is started.

Optionally, during steady state operation of the air conditioning system, the thermal power source controlledly cools or heats the thermal temperature sensing bulb to adjust the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet.

Optionally, the thermal power source is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb by means of thermal radiation, thermal convection or thermal conduction.

Optionally, the thermal power source includes a thermoelectric sheet disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb.

Optionally, the thermal power source includes an energy storage device disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb, and the energy storage device draws and stores heat from the evaporator or the condenser during operation of the air conditioning system.

Optionally, the air conditioning system is a refrigeration system or a heat pump system.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a startup control method of an air conditioning system is also provided, wherein the air conditioning system includes: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; and the air conditioning system further includes a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb; wherein the startup control method includes: the thermal power source controlledly pre-cooling the thermal temperature sensing bulb before the compressor is started, so that a range of valve opening degree oscillation of the thermal expansion valve caused by a temperature change of the thermal temperature sensing bulb is reduced.

Optionally, the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb for a target time of 1-60 seconds.

Optionally, the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb for a target time of 10-25 seconds.

Optionally, the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb to a target temperature in a range of ±10° C. from a final stable temperature of the thermal temperature sensing bulb.

Optionally, the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb to a target temperature which corresponds to a final stable temperature of the thermal temperature sensing bulb.

Optionally, the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb by means of thermal radiation, thermal convection, or thermal conduction.

Optionally, the thermal power source includes a thermoelectric sheet disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb.

Optionally, the thermal power source includes an energy storage device disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb, and the energy storage device draws and stores cooling capacity from the evaporator during operation of the air conditioning system.

Optionally, the air conditioning system is a refrigeration system or a heat pump system.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a control method of an air conditioning system is further provided, wherein the air conditioning system includes: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; and the air conditioning system further includes a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb; the control method including: the thermal power source controlledly cooling or heating the thermal temperature sensing bulb to adjust the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet, during steady state operation of the air conditioning system.

According to the air conditioning system of the present disclosure and the control method thereof, the thermal temperature sensing bulb is cooled or heated, as needed, by a thermal power source thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb, thereby enabling the thermal expansion valve associated with the thermal temperature sensing bulb to be opened and closed more smoothly, greatly reducing the opening degree oscillation caused by sudden pressure change, or providing a certain degree of adjustment in the steady state operation of the system, and effectively improving the performance of the air conditioning system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The technical solutions of the present disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, but it should be understood that the drawings are only provided for the purpose of explanation, and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the drawings are only intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and constructions described herein, and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing oscillation of a cooling capacity of a refrigeration system in the prior art when it is restarted;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a refrigeration system of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing oscillation of a cooling capacity of a refrigeration system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when it is restarted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be embodied in a variety of different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more complete and thorough, and to fully convey the concept of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Although the features of the present disclosure are disclosed in connection with one or more of the embodiments, such features can be combined with one or more other features of other implementations/embodiments, as may be desired and/or advantageous for any given or identifiable function.

Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a refrigeration system is provided herein. The refrigeration system 100 includes a compressor 110, a condenser 120, a thermal expansion valve 130, and an evaporator 140 that are connected via a pipeline. The refrigeration system 100 also includes a thermal temperature sensing bulb 131 which is disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator 140 and associated with the thermal expansion valve 130. More critically, the refrigeration system 100 further includes a thermoelectric sheet 132 disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb 131, and the thermoelectric sheet 132 controlledly cools or heats the thermal temperature sensing bulb 131. Under this arrangement, before the compressor is started, due to the pre-cooling action of the thermoelectric sheet 132 on the thermal temperature sensing bulb 131, a pressure P1 associated with the temperature change of the thermal temperature sensing bulb is relatively decreased by a certain amount as the temperature is lowered. At this point, if the compressor is restarted, a resultant force of the pressure P1 and a spring preload force P3 is correspondingly reduced, and the amplification of the opening degree of the thermal expansion valve is correspondingly small, whereby the oscillation of opening degree subsequently caused by rebalanced pressure is also reduced. Specifically, reference may be made to FIG. 3 for performance change during system startup, wherein the system is started at the time of 1800 s, the oscillation is eliminated by the compressor power consumption within about 40 s after the startup, and the steady-state operation is realized at about 1100 W; as compared to the oscillation elimination time of about 150 s in FIG. 1, the embodiment in FIG. 3 can achieve a steady-state operation extremely quickly without the need for excess power consumption of the compressor. With continued reference to FIG. 3, the oscillation of the cooling capacity corresponding to the starting state of the compressor is correspondingly reduced, and the oscillation is eliminated within 40 s to achieve a steady-state output of the cooling capacity of about 18000 Btu/hr; as compared to the oscillation elimination time of about 150 s in FIG. 1, the embodiment in FIG. 3 can achieve a steady-state output extremely quickly, thus effectively improving the cyclic degradation coefficient and system performance

Although the present concept is described with a set of refrigeration systems as an embodiment, it should be understood that the present concept aims to improve the phenomenon that the oscillation of cooling capacity of a system in which the thermal expansion valve is used as a throttling element is too large, thereby improving the cyclic degradation coefficient and system performance. Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in the light the teachings of the present concept, that the concept is equally applicable to a heat pump system, or even various types of more general air conditioning systems, which should therefore be included within the scope of the present concept.

Similarly, although in the foregoing embodiment, the technical effects of pre-cooling the thermal temperature sensing bulb are described in an application scenario of the refrigeration system after the compressor is shut down and before it is restarted, it should be understood that the concept is applicable to any scenario in which the thermal expansion valve needs to be controlled suddenly. The pre-cooling element is intended to make the opening and closing of the thermal expansion valve associated with the thermal temperature sensing bulb smoother, greatly alleviating the oscillation of opening degree caused by sudden pressure change, and thereby improving the performance of the air conditioning system. In addition, a certain degree of active adjustment function of the thermal expansion valve can also be achieved by the heating or cooling effect of the heating source on the thermal temperature sensing bulb, thereby improving system performance or improving system reliability. For example, during a steady state operation of the air conditioning system, the thermal power source can controlledly heat the thermal temperature sensing bulb to reduce the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the system from a thermodynamic point of view (e.g., COP=cooling capacity/power consumption). For another example, during the steady state operation of the air conditioning system, the thermal power source can controlledly cool the thermal temperature sensing bulb to increase the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet, thereby preventing liquid-phase refrigerant from entering the compressor and causing liquid slugging damage, and improving compressor reliability.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments, the thermoelectric sheet is described as an element for cooling or heating the thermal temperature sensing bulb. In fact, it is not intended to limit the present concept. In the light of the teachings of present concept, a corresponding purpose can be achieved by disposing a thermal power source at the thermal temperature sensing bulb. For example, an energy storage device can be disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb, wherein the energy storage device draws and stores a cooling capacity from the evaporator during operation of the air conditioning system, or draws and stores heat from the condenser, and when it is required to cool or heat the thermal expansion valve, the energy storage device releases the heat. It is of course also possible to use other thermal power sources, which are not exhaustively listed herein, but they should all be included within the present concept. Similarly, for the arrangement between the thermal source and the thermal expansion valve, a contact arrangement not necessarily required. According to the conduction mode of heat, the thermal power source can be thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb by means of thermal radiation, thermal convection or thermal conduction to achieve the purpose of heat transferring.

Accordingly, a startup control method of an air conditioning system is also provided herein according to the present concept, wherein the air conditioning system includes: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; and the air conditioning system further includes a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb; wherein the startup control method includes: the thermal power source controlledly pre-cooling the thermal temperature sensing bulb before the compressor is started, so that a range of valve opening degree oscillation of the thermal expansion valve caused by a temperature change of the thermal temperature sensing bulb is reduced. According to the method, the thermal temperature sensing bulb is pre-cooled by the thermal power source thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb before the compressor is started, thereby enabling the thermal expansion valve associated with the thermal temperature sensing bulb to be opened and closed more smoothly, greatly reducing the opening degree oscillation caused by sudden pressure change and improving the performance of the air conditioning system.

Similarly, the method is also applicable to air conditioning systems in any of the foregoing embodiments or combinations thereof, including but not limited to refrigeration systems or heat pump systems. Of course, when the method is applied to the air conditioning system in the foregoing embodiment, the structural form and arrangement of the thermal power source can be modified accordingly. For example, the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb by means of thermal radiation, thermal convection or thermal conduction. For another example, the thermal power source may include a thermoelectric sheet disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb; or it may include an energy storage device disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb, and the energy storage device draws and stores a cooling capacity from the evaporator during operation of the air conditioning system. The description will not be expanded herein.

It should be understood that there should be a control target of pre-cooling when implementing the method of the foregoing embodiment. The control target may be set by a pre-cooling duration, for example, 1-60 seconds; for another example, 10-25 seconds; or it may be set according to a pre-cooled temperature, for example, the final stable temperature of the thermal temperature sensing bulb is ±10° C., and the like. Therefore, a set of closed-loop control is formed, which works only when needed and is closed after the purpose is achieved.

Accordingly, a control method of an air conditioning system is further provided herein according to the present concept, wherein the air conditioning system includes: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; and the air conditioning system further includes a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb. The control method includes: the thermal power source controlledly cooling or heating the thermal temperature sensing bulb to adjust the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet, during steady state operation of the air conditioning system. This control method can impart a certain degree of active adjustment to the air conditioning system to which the thermal expansion valve is applied, thereby improving system performance or improving system reliability. For example, during steady state operation of the air conditioning system, the thermal power source can controlledly heat the thermal temperature sensing bulb to reduce the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the system from a thermodynamic point of view (e.g., COP=cooling capacity/power consumption). For another example, during the steady state operation of the air conditioning system, the thermal power source can controlledly cool the thermal temperature sensing bulb to increase the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet, thereby preventing liquid-phase refrigerant from entering the compressor and causing liquid slugging damage, and improving compressor reliability.

While specific order of steps may have been shown, disclosed, and claimed in particular embodiments of the present disclosure, it is understood that the steps can be carried out, separated or combined in any order unless otherwise indicated, which will still benefit from the disclosure.

In the description, examples are used to disclose the present application, including the best mode, with the purpose of enabling any person skilled in the art to practice the application, including making and using any device or system and performing any of the methods covered. The scope of protection of the present application is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that can be conceived by those skilled in the art. If such other examples have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that do not substantively differ from the literal language of the claims, these examples are also intended to be included in the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An air conditioning system, comprising: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; the air conditioning system further comprising a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb and controlledly cools or heats the thermal temperature sensing bulb.
 2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the thermal power source controlledly cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb before the compressor is started.
 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein during steady state operation of the air conditioning system, the thermal power source controlledly cools or heats the thermal temperature sensing bulb to adjust the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet.
 4. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the thermal power source comprises a thermoelectric sheet disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb, or an energy storage device disposed on the thermal temperature sensing bulb, and the energy storage device draws and stores heat from the evaporator or the condenser during operation of the air conditioning system.
 5. A control method of an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; and the air conditioning system further comprising a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb; the control method comprising: the thermal power source controlledly pre-cooling the thermal temperature sensing bulb before the compressor is started, so that a range of valve opening degree oscillation of the thermal expansion valve caused by a temperature change of the thermal temperature sensing bulb is reduced.
 6. The startup control method according to claim 5, wherein the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb for a target time of 1-60 seconds.
 7. The startup control method according to claim 6, wherein the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb for a target time of 10-25 seconds.
 8. The startup control method according to claim 5, wherein the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb to a target temperature in a range of ±10° C. from a final stable temperature of the thermal temperature sensing bulb.
 9. The startup control method according to claim 6, wherein the thermal power source pre-cools the thermal temperature sensing bulb to a target temperature which corresponds to a final stable temperature of the thermal temperature sensing bulb.
 10. A control method of an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising: a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator connected via a pipeline; and a thermal temperature sensing bulb disposed on an outlet pipeline of the evaporator and associated with the thermal expansion valve; and the air conditioning system further comprising a thermal power source which is thermally coupled to the thermal temperature sensing bulb; the control method comprising: the thermal power source controlledly cooling or heating the thermal temperature sensing bulb to adjust the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet, during steady state operation of the air conditioning system. 